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HR 6150

To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to add an economic cause as an allowable cause to declare a fishery resource disaster.

119th Congress Introduced by Troy Carter and 7 co-sponsors

Bill expands fishery disaster declarations to include economic hardship, not just biological causes, enabling faster federal aid to struggling fishing communities regardless of stock health.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 6150

Legislative bill overview

HR 6150 amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to allow the Secretary of Commerce to declare a fishery resource disaster based on economic hardship, not just biological/environmental causes. Currently, disaster declarations require documented depletion of fish stocks; this bill expands the criteria to include economic factors like market collapse or price drops affecting fishing communities.

Why is this important

Fishing communities dependent on specific species face severe economic hardship when markets fail, prices crash, or demand evaporates—situations unrelated to fish availability. Disaster declarations unlock federal relief funding, loans, and assistance programs. This expansion could provide faster aid to economically distressed fishing regions without waiting for stock depletion evidence, though it shifts disaster definitions away from conservation-based triggers.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition ambiguity: "Economic cause" is vague and could apply to many market conditions, raising questions about what qualifies and who decides
  • Moral hazard concerns: Critics may argue this incentivizes over-fishing by severing the link between stock health and disaster relief, removing natural conservation pressure
  • Fiscal impact: Unclear how frequently economic disasters would be declared and the total federal cost of expanded relief eligibility
  • Conservation priorities: Environmental groups may worry the bill deprioritizes fishery sustainability in favor of short-term economic relief

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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